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Casa della Trova Pepe Sánchez / Pepe Sanchez Trova House
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Cayo Granma

People say it’s the hottest city on the Island. Some of them assert that it has to do with its climate, others point out the warmth of its people. One way or another, Santiago is one of the must-visit places in Cuba

Since the very moment you arrive in Santiago de Cuba, there are two elements that stand out: the high temperatures in the region, where summertime prevails throughout the year, and the kindness of its people, which rank as the most hospitable Cuban city.
People that visit this destination have the opportunity to enjoy places, events and traditions, if they are willing to feel the whole power of Santiago.
You have to walk its crowded streets, sit on a bench at Cespedes Park, the heart of its historic core, and listen to authentic Cuban music performed by troubadours and bohemians that breathe life into this major square.
Sip at a mojito or have a cup of coffee at the roofed garden of the Casagranda Hotel, a privileged balcony that delivers one of the most breathtaking views of the bay, the city and the mountains.
The birthplace of trova, guaracha, bolero and son –declared Cultural Heritage of the Cuban nation- this city also witnessed in 1862 the birth of Cuban light rum, an indisputable seasoning of this indomitable land.
Santiago is a polychrome painting, a one-of-a-kind fusion, unseen anywhere else on the Island, teeming with different cultures: Spanish, African, French, Haitian, Chinese and others, which have had a significant impact on the formation of its people’s idiosyncrasy and culture.
When people speak about music in Santiago, visiting the cathedral of Cuban music is a must: the Pepe Sanchez Trova House. This is the birthplace of such prestigious boldface names of Cuban traditional music as Sindo Garay, Miguel Matamoros, Ñico Saquito, Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Eliades Ochoa, among many others.
Santiago, with its unique history, is the proud home to the mortal remains of
National Hero Jose Marti, Apostle of Cuban Independence, at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, also a National Monument. It also features the former Moncada Barracks, currently the July 26 School City, a name that pays tribute to the events occurred on that day back in 1953.
The San Juan Hill is a silent witness of history, the battlefield that staged the last armed encounter of the Hispanic-Cuban-American War, which spawned the dawn of an entire new age. During that action, a company was commanded by Theodore Roosevelt, the man who a few years later was sworn in as President of the United States.
But there is nothing like the San Pedro de la Roca Castle or Morro Castle, the common name of this fortress that was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1997. Visitors find here one of the finest views of the bay and the surrounding areas.
Santiago de Cuba is also blessed by its natural environment; its mountains are a distinctive element and a hallmark of its scenery. Wherever you stand, you are simply going up or down its topography.
Described as the most Caribbean city in Cuba, with history, music, rhythm and color galore, a town marked by unlimited hospitality, Santiago de Cuba shares unforgettable feelings with those who decide to visit it and feel the love of its people.
One of the most interesting places to be visited at the mountainous area of Mayari Arriba, near the capital city, is the Mausoleum to the Martyrs of the Frank Pais Second Front, which holds memories of the decisive developments carried out by the Rebel Army, led by Raul Castro Ruz, the current president of the councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba.
Guarded by an eternal flame, there are rows of tombs with the mortal remains of heroes and martyrs worth paying everlasting homage to. 

There are emblematic neighborhoods in town, a reflection of its historic evolution, such as French-rooted Tivoli that features the most famous street of Cuba